Lawn Mower Expert

How To Deal With Lawn Thatch

So, what the heck is lawn thatch?

Thatch is a layer of dead organic material that occurs naturally between the soil and the blades or leaves of the grass itself. If your lawn is relatively healthy, you may have not even noticed it before. Look closely, and you’ll see it. It looks like dead grass embedded around the roots, just above the soil.

Before you start crawling around pulling all of your grass out, understand that a little bit of thatch is natural in any lawn. In fact, the right amount of thatch can actually help protect your lawn’s roots from heat and sun damage during hot summer days.

However, too much thatch can be a problem. A thick layer of thatch can block the movement of air and nutrients to the soil. Grass roots will grow upward from the soil into the layer of thatch in search of air and nutrients. This can cause the roots to become weak and damaged by harsh temperatures, disease, and pests. Too much thatch can also cause moisture problems in your lawn, holding too much water during wet periods and repelling water during dry periods.

So who are you going to call? Ghost Busters? Of course not, because they’re fictional characters. Just call me at Mowers Direct and I’ll help you pick out the perfect dethatcher to break up and remove excess thatch from your lawn. The tines of a lawn dethatcher will pull the excess thatch out of your lawn similarly to how a comb or brush collects and removes loose hair.

You can get different kinds of dethatchers depending on the size of your lawn as well as your personal preferences. If you have a riding mower and a large lawn, you can choose to get a tow behind dethatcher. This type of dethatcher will attach to the back of your riding mower and dethatch as you ride. If you don’t use a riding mower, or would just like something that does a more quality job, you can get a walk-behind dethatcher. This type of dethatcher operates similarly to a walk-behind mower and comes in either gas or electric.

The best time to dethatch your lawn is in late summer or early fall. It’s easiest to dethatch when the ground and the grass are slightly moist, because the moisture will help the thatch stick together on the tines. Before dethatching, mow your lawn at a slightly lower height than normal. It’s best to make two passes over your lawn with the dethatcher, using a different pattern each time. After you finish dethatching, you’ll want to sweep up or rake up the debris.